Machine for cleaning golf balls or the like



Sept. 18, 1934. o. E. HElssER MACHINE FOR CLEANING GOLF BALLS OR THE LIKE Filed March 6, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet l 1If- @d l mh. @u ll\` QN um ri .NNQM MN QN Q l uw m n u R in N Q R? uw ......,..wmm QN Q hm @N1 Sept. 18, 1934. o. E. HElssER MACHINE FOR CLEANING GOLF BALLS OR THE LIKE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 6, 1930 sept. 18, 1934. Q E HE'lssER 1,974,185

MACHINE FOR CLEANING GOLF BALLS OR THE LIKE Filed March 6, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Sept. 18, 1934 MACHINE FOR CLEANING GOLF BALLS OR THE LIKE Otto E. Heisser, Chicago, Ill. Application March 6, 1930, Serial No. 433,575

11 Claims.

The invention relates generally to a machine for cleaning golf balls and has as its aim the provision of a novel device of simple construction and operation by which a golf ball may be automatically washed, scrubbedand dried.

An object of the invention and improved device is to provide a new of this character embodying a continuous passageway along which the ball travels for operation thereon by a washing and scrubbing mech a drying mechanism anism and subsequently by to clean the ball thoroughly Sponge rubber capable of drawing moisture from the depressions in the ball.

Another obj ect of the invention is to provide a novel ball cleaning device in which the operative mechanisms are readily accessible for inspeetion, cleaning, repair and replacement of parts when necessary.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent in the following description and from the accompanying Figure 1 is a plan drawings, in which:

view of a device embodying the invention, the cover being broken away to show the internal construction and arrangement of parts.

Fig. 2 is a side ele reduced scale with a vation of the machine on a part of the side wall broken away to show the driving mechanism of the machine.

Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section taken substantially along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Figs. 4 and 5 are transverse vertical sections taken on the lines 4-4 and 5-5 respectively of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a detail taken on the line Generally,

invention contemplates which may be readily mechanisms therein. tinuous passageway ball travels from an exit at another side section of the drying drum 6-6 of Fig. 1. the preferred embodiment of the the provision of a casing taken apart to expose the Within the casing, a conis formed along which the entrance at one side to an of the casing. A ball, duris first and scrubbing mechanism adapted thoroughly to clean every part of the ball surface. mechanism,

Released from the washing the ball travels to a dryer from which the ball is discharged -in dried condition. In the present instance, the ually actuated but,

driving mechanism is manof` course, may be easily adapted to be power driven if a machine of that nature is desired.

Referring more particularly to the preferred construction illustrated herein, an elongated casing is provided in which the side and end walls are formed in two sections l and 11 detachably secured together. The section 11 is an elongated U-shaped member, preferably formed from a single flat piece of sheet metal, so arranged that the base of the U comprises one side wall 13 of the casing while the two legs of the U form the end walls 14 and 15. The section 1D forms the other side wall and is a flat sheet of metal adapted to extend between the ends 14, 15. Suitable means, such as a plurality of screws 16 extending through the side wall section and a flange 17 on each end wall 14, 15, detachably secures the sections together. The bottom of the casing is open, and the top is provided with a suitable cover 18 which preferably is hinged or pivotally secured as at 19 to one of the end walls (in this instance the end wall 14).

The ball washing and scrubbing mechanism is located within one end of the casing, arbitrarily designated the inlet end, and located at the left hand end of the casing as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3. This mechanism comprises generally a pair of oppositely facing brush members 20, 21 mounted for rotation on the same axis and spaced apart a distance less than the diameter of the ball to be cleaned. The construction preferred is shown clearly in Figs. 1, 3 and 4. A shaft 22 eX- tends transversely of the casing and is journalled in suitable bearings 23, 24 welded or otherwise rigidly secured to the side walls 10 and 11 respectively. The brush members and 21 are substantially similar in construction and comprise thick, circularly shaped backs 25, 25il having bristles 26 mounted in their adjacent faces. The brush members are detachably fixed on axially extending sleeves 27, 28 (Fig. 4) which are adapted to be received upon the shaft 22.

l It is preferred that the brush members rotate in opposite directions and that one brush member have an intermittent movement so that a ball positioned therebetween will be turned in all directions during the washing and scrubbing operation. To this end, the brush member 20 is rigidly mounted on the shaft 22 for rotation therewith, as by means of a cotter pin 29 or the like extending through the sleeve 27 and shaft. The other brush member 21 is not fixed to the shaftv and rotates freely relative thereto upon its sleeve 28. Spacing washers 30 are interposed between the adjacentends of the sleeves 27, 28and sim-.

ilar washers 31, which may be of Various thicknesses, are located on the shaft between the outer face of the freely rotating brush member 21 and the adjacent bearing 23.

The freely rotatable brush member 21 is preferably driven intermittently from the driven brush member 20. Thus, the end wall 15 of the casing carries an inwardly projecting stub shaft 33 (Figs. 1 and 3) positioned substantially intermediate the brush members 20, 21 in the horizontal plane of the shaft 22. A disk 34 is rotatably maintained on the stub shaft 33 by a pin 35 and is preferably urged outwardly by a spring 36 bearing Yon the face of the disk and a stationary part of the wall or stub shaft. In diameter, the disk is of a size to extend into a position adjacent the peripheries of the brush backs 25, and an annular rin'g 37 of rubber or other suitable friction material is ca-re ried by the disk near the margin thereof. The periphery of the freely rotatable brush 'member has an annular band 38 of frictionmaterial thereon which is positioned to engage the friction ring 37 on therdisk to provide a permanent driving connection therebetween.

The disk 34 is intermittently driven from the brush member 20 by the successive engagement of a plurality of oppositely disposed projections or bosses 39, on the periphery of the driven brush member 20, with the friction ring 37 on the disk. In consequence, rotation of the shaft 22 rotates the brush member 20 constantly, which, in turn, intermittently advances the disk 34 and the freely rotatable brush member 21. This construction moreover produces a rotation of the brush member 21 in a vdirection opposite to that of the member 20. A hand crank 40, having screw threaded engagement with the shaft 22 through the side Wall 13, is provided to facilitate manual actuation of the shaft.

Y Means are provided within the casing which define a passageway for a golf ball to be cleaned. This passageway first positions a ball, indicated at A, between the brush members where it is held until, in the opinion of the operator, it has been Y, sunciently scrubbed and washed. In the cover 18 near4 the inlet end thereof, an aperture 4l is provided through which a golf ball may pass. The aperture is preferably located in the vertical plane of the shaft 22 and intermediate the bristles 26 of the brush members. A substantially L-shaped guide member 42 underlies the aperture 41 and is secured by one leg 42a to the cover 18. The other leg 42h parallels the cover between the brush members (see Figs. 1 'and 3) and extends away from the inlet end toward the other or discharge end of the machine.

When the golf ball is inserted through the aperture 41, the rotating brush 26 moving in a clockwise direction carries the ball therewith toward the discharge end. In order to prevent the ball from moving from between the brush members until it has been thoroughly cleaned, a retractible stop member i's provided. This member (see Fig. 3) comprises an elongated rod 43 extending through the cover 18 and supported `by a depending bracket 44 mounted on the cover. A transverse pin 43e limits the movement of the rod 'andfa linger piece 43b facilitates retraction of the rod out of the path of the ball.

The position of the bracket 'and rod 'is such A that the rod nes in the path of the bali as the ball is moved toward the 'discharge end by the brush member 20. Hence, the rod serves with the guide leg 42a to hold the ball between the brush vmembers`20, 21Yduring the 'cleaning operation. This position of the ball is maintained since the brush member 20 rotates constantly. Due, however, to the intermittent rotation of the other brush 21 in the opposite direction, the ball at times will be shifted to expose new surfaces to the cleaning, scrubbing action of the bristles.

Preferably, the side of the bracket 44 adjacent the inlet aperture 41 presents a tapered surface, as at 45, to insure movement of the. ball toward the guide leg 42h. It will be evident moreover that the guide leg 42a serves as a ball stop to prevent the ball from being carried in the wrong direction should the brush member 20 be rotated backwards.

Means are provided for supplying cleansing water to the brush members. For this purpose a Water tank 46 is mounted beneath the brush members so that the lower portions of said members may extend into a supply of water in the tank. The tank is removably supported between the end Wall 15 and a transverse partition 47 by an elongated arm 48 pivoted to the tank, as at 49, which arm `is arranged to engage registering transverse slots 50, 51 in the end wall and partition respectively. It is, consequently, a simple matter to remove the tank from the machine to clean the tank or replenish the water therein. l

The free end of the guide leg 42b is supported from the cover by a U-shaped bracket 52 and the end of the leg stops just beyond theedge ofy the water tank 46. Therefore, as the ball is released to travel from the brush members by the withdrawal of the rod 43, the -ball moves along the leg 42h. spaced side guides 53 confine the ball against movement laterally from the leg 42h. the leg and a transverse guide wall 54 connects the ends of the side guides, thereby forming at the end of the guide leg 42h, an aperture through which the golf ball drops. Preferably, the guides 53, 54 are formed integrally and are supported by the cover 18 and bracket 52 as may be seen in Fig. 2.

As the ball drops from the guide leg 421 it is received in a trough ymember 55 positioned therebeneath. The trough member lextends transversely of the casing and slopes gently to cause the ball to travel to one side thereof, as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1. At this poi-nt, the ball moves from the trough member into the drying mechanism.

In the drying mechanism, the ball is caused to travel along a lengthy, vcircuitous path while in contact with va drying medium. During lsaid travel the ball is givena twisting or fspinn-ing lmotion lwhich brings every part of the surface into contact with said drying medium. To thisend, a pair of concentrically arranged, cylindrical drums 56 and 57 are rigidlysecured, as by screws 58, to the side wall 10 and extend toward but stop short `of the side wall 13. The outer drum 56, adjacent the side wall 10, ris provided with a'n aperture 59 (see Figs. 5 'and 6) registering with the trough 55 through which the ball drops into the space between the drums. The'outer drum 56 is internally linedwith a facingSO of a good Water absorbent material which constitutes the 4drying medium.

Preferably, a material known as sponge zrubber is used since such material, in addition toits water absorbing property, is capable of 'exerting a force in the nature of a suction upon a moving surface in contact therewith. This is advantageous, since golf balls normally have a series of The side guides extend beyond the end of depressions inthe .surfaces thereof, andthe suction ofthe rubberA withdraws all moisture from the depressions as the ball moves across the rubber'surface. e y' i v' I The outer surface of the Iinner drum, as may be seen in Fig.V 1, has a spirally arranged raised rib 6l thereon which denes a spiral groove or path 62 thereon of suiiicie'nt width and depth guidingly to receive the ballindicated at B. It will, o course, -be obvious that the groove may beviormed in the outer surface with the drying medium mounted upon the inner drum without departing essentially from the desired arrangenient of parts. l v 1Means is provided for moving the ball about the groove which, in lthis' instance, comprises a crank arm 63 extendingtransversely of the casing between the drums. The crank arm is mounted on a sprocket 64 rotatably-journalled on a stub shaft -65 which is rigidly secured to the side wall 13 substantially on the axis of the drums-56, 57. -If desired, an antifriction sleeve; 66 may be carriedby the crank arin 635. The

,r .sprocket 64 and crahkar'm 63 are driven from es the shaft 22 by Va chain 67 extending about the sprocket 64 and an lalined sprocket 68 rigid with the shaft 22. Y

The space between'the drums is less than the l diameter of the bail so that, as the ball follows the groove, aportion of the surface of the ball is pressed into the water absorbent material.

ence, as the crank arm travels about its orbit between the drums, av ball dropping into the space between'the drums will be engaged by the crank arm and propelled valong the groove 62. The angular relationship -of the groove with respect to the direction of movement of the crank arm'produces a twisting, spinning movement of the ball `in addition to the rolling movement which results from the engagement of the ball with the absorbent material. Consequently, during the passage of the ball between the drums, every portion of the surface of the ball comes into contact with the water absorbing surface to dry the ball thoroughly. Preferably, a circular series of apertures 69 (Figs. 2 and 3), communicating with the space between the drums through the side walls 10 and 13, permits the circulation of air over the surface of the absorbent material.

The ball, after its travel between the drums, is discharged therefrom through an outlet aperture '70 which registers with the final turn of the groove on the side of the outer drum opposite v the aperture 59. A receptacle 71 (Fig. 3) mount- -ed cn the side wall 10 underlies the aperture 70 to receive the ball as it drops from the drying mechanism. The lower portion of the end wall 14 is cut away, as at 72, to permit access to the receptacle.

it is contemplated that an inexperienced operator might reverse the direction of rotation of the crank arm 63 to move the ball in the wrong direction to the damage of the machine. While means may be provided for preventing such a movement of the crank arm, it is preferred to provide an aperture 73 (Fig. 6) underlying the iirst turn of the groove 62 through which aperture the ball is discharged if it is moved downwardly from the aperture 59.

A the brush membei` 20 and carry the ball against the rod 43 and guide leg 42. intermittently, the

brush member 21 is reversely rotated a short distance to change the position of the ball beV tween vthe brush members. When the ball has been washed and scrubbed suiiiciently the operator retracts the rod 43 and the ball passes along the guide leg 42b to drop into the trough 55 and thence pass through the aperture 59 into the space between the drums 56, 57. The crank arm 63 then engages the ball to move it along thev spiral groove 62 thereby drying the ball. Finally the rball is discharged through the aperture into the receptacle 71, cleaned and ready for use.

Normal inspection of the device is permitted by the hinged cover 18. However, the arrangement perimts the machine to be readily disas- 9@ sembled when more thorough inspection is desired or repairs are to be made. For this purpose,- removal ofthe screws 16 permits the side wall i0 to be removed. The drums 56, 5'7 and the bearing 23 are carried with the side wall. This frees the end of the shaft 22 so that the spacing' washers 31, the loosely rotating brush member 2l, the central spacing washers 30 and nally the xed brush member 20 may in turn be removed from the shaft.V The driving disk 34 is then accessible, as well as the sprocket 68 and chain 67. It will be seen, therefore, that every part of the device may be easily reached if necessary.

While the invention is susceptible of various modifications and alternative constructions', I have shown in the drawings and have herein described in detail the preferred embodiment, but it is to be understood that I do not thereby intend to limit the invention to the specific form disclosed, but intend to cover all modications and alternative constructions falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention: j

1. A device for cleaning and drying golf balls comprising a casing including two separable side sections, means for detachably securing said sections together, guide means defining a continuo-us ball passageway through said casing, means for cleaning a golf ball during its passage along said passageway, and means for drying a golf ball during its subsequent travel along said passageway, said means for cleaning being fixed to one side section and said means for drying being iiXed to the opposite side section of the casing for relative separating movement when the casing sections are detached from one another.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination of means defining a ball conveying guideway, a pair of concentric drums adapted to receive a ball therebetween from said guideway, a sheet of water absorbing material mounted on the adjacent face of one of said drums, a helical groove encircling the adjacent face of the other one of said drums constituting a continuation of said guideway, and means for propelling a ball along said groove.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination of means defining a helical ball con- 14() veying guideway, means presenting a sheet of water absorbent material adjacent said guideway, and means for conveying a ball along said guideway in contact with said material.

4. In a device of the character described, the combination of means dening a helical ball conveying guideway, a sheet of sponge rubber positioned adjacent said guideway, and means for conveying a ball along said guideway in contact with said sheet.

lil() 5. In a device. of the character described, the combination of means dening a ball conveying guideway including a cylindrical member having a helical groove in the surface thereof, means presenting a sheet of Water absorbing material in spaced relation to said groove, and means for moving said ball along said groove While imparting a slight spinning or turning movement thereto.

6. In a device of the character described, the combination of means deining a ball conveying guideway including a cylindrical member having a helical groove in the surface thereof, means presenting a sheet of Water absorbing material in spaced relation to said groove, land means for moving said ball along said groove, said last means having a movement with a component transverse to the path of the ball to impart a slight spinning movement to the ball.

7. In a device of the character described, the combination of a drum having a rigid and sub-v stantially smooth circuitous guide means extending helically about the surface thereof, means for propelling a ball along said guide means, and drying means disposed for engagement by a ball travelling along said guide means.

8. In a drying device for golf balls, the combination of a pair of stationary concentrically spaced drums of substantial Width, one of said drums having a helical guide groove of relatively slow pitch thereon, a sheet of drying material on the groove opposing face of the other drum and substantially covering said face, an elongated bar extending through the space between the drums,

and means for driving said bar through a path which is substantially concentric with said drums tocause a ball to travel the entire length of the groove While moving along the length of said bar, said device having a ball inlet and a ball outlet respectively communicating With said groove near opposite ends thereof.

@niet 9. In a drying device for golf balls, the oombination of a vpair of concentricallyspaced ydrums of substantial width, .one .of said Vdrums ,having a helical guide groove of relatively ,slow .pitch thereon, a sheet of drying material on the groove opposing face of the other drum and substantially covering said face, and driven means for moving a ball the length of said groove including an elongated bar extending through the space between the drums, said device having a ball inlet and a ball outlet respectively communicating with said groove near opposite ends thereof.

lGl ,In a drying device for golf balls, the combination of a pair of concentrically spaced drums of substantial Width, one of sai-d drums having a helical guide groove of relatively slow pitch thereon, 'a sheet of drying material on the groove 0pposing face of the other drum and substantially covering said face, and driven means for moving a ball the length of said groove, the outer one of said drums v.having a ball inlet and outlet therein communicating with the groove near opposite ends thereof.

1.1. In a drying device for a golf ball cleaning mechanism, the combination of a casing, a drum mounted inV said casing and having a smooth surfaced guide groove therein defining a helical guide path from substantially one end vof the drum to the other, a second drumV arranged concentrically of said rst mentioned drum andhaving a sheet of water absorbing material covering the surface thereof opposite said guide groove, said parts being arranged so that the dimension of the space therebetween is slightly less .than the diameter of la golf ball, an .inlet at one end of the groove, an outlet at the other endo't .the groove, driving means for moving a .golf ball from the inlet along said groove and discharging .the ball through the outlet, and means for actuating the driving means.l 

